Pumping device



July 24, 192s.

T. H. WALKER PUMPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 28, 1927 v INV ENTOR Tha/m5 z/r ATTORNEY Patented .lnly 24, 1925,

UNITED STATES 1,678,612 PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. WALKER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 EARL G. SPANGLER.

ruivrrrne DEVICE.

Application filed February 28, 1927. Serial No. 171,464. y

y My invention relates to apparatus for producing and using power and particularly to the application to a prime moveroi a vapor alternately advancing and retreating as released and absorbed by a liquid.

One of the principles upon which my invention is founded is well known though so `far as I am aware it never before Ahas been employed in the actuation of a prime mover. I suggest as an example of the principle the ability of a speciiic amount or water to absorb and hold in solution a chemical that upon expansion and vaporization would have a volume substantially several hundred times the volume of the'watcr; the release of the vapor from the water occurring through the increasing of the temperature of the water, and the vapor being re absorbed upon restoration of the original temperature of the water to leave a vacuum in the enclosed area into which the vapor was released. v'lheprinciple is widely used, for example in refrigeration plants, where pressure is present but is not a primary ob: jective in the functioning of the device.

My object is to provide means whereby said alternating` phases maybe employed'to coni'er reciprocal movement on a piston, a problem involved being the provision of a piston able to respond to and transmit the impulses without detriment to the efficiency of the vapor, and susceptible to retraction upon retreat of the vapor.

I conceive that the utilization of ythe phenomena mentioned will enable me to produce and transmit energy'at a relat-ively low cost for fuel and mechanical. labor. An installation under my invention would comprise a small number ot' parts, and especially an extremely small number of moving parts and elements, whereby the problems of lubrication, replacement, and costs and labor of installation would be greatly simplified. I have particularly in mind the pumping of water in drainage, irrigation, or like enterprise, for which continuous operation over a considerable period., with a minimum of `attention to equipment. is desirable. ,I represent my invention therefore in terms of application to the pumping ofk water, though it may be adapted to the moving of other uids andto actuationof other elements.

I provide for the accomplishment of my object a devicecomprising in its preferred form a Vvessel `vholding a volatilizable element,- 'tneans ttor releasing vapor from the element, means for reducing the vapor, and a pump or engine `housing having a liquid piston to which the expanded vapor is admitted and from which in turn the vapor is withdrawn. The piston is of a nature to refuse to absorb or otherwise affect, or be affected by, the vapor, and is preferably an oil of a suitable nature. The piston is projected through chambers in the housing against water in a ycistern or `sump of the housing and propels the water therefrom. Removal of the vapor from the pump housing, by reduction or otherwise, permits atmospheric pressure on the water at the source from which it is being drawn, to return the piston to normal position and to propel a fresh charge of water into theisump for discharge by the succeeding positive phase of operation by the device, suitable inlets and outlets, and valves, being provided.

The details of a specific application of the principles will be particularly described with reference to the drawings nwhich:

l vris a perspective View of my device, two of the pump members being shown in vertical cross section.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of tank "elements and a perspective view of the heating element.

Fig. 3 is a detailperspective of a valve member controlling delivery of cooling water to a tank.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

l designates a boiler vor vaporpr'oducing chamber, of which three "are provided for continuousoperation inthe particular service illustrated, thefboilers or'evaporators being formed arcuately for disposition in a circle,`land `shown vas spaced.` The boilers contain a liquid, forA example water, in which a gas is held in absorption, for example ammonia. A heating means is provided, which in the particular instance and for illustra` tion, comprises a gas burner 2 having a curved nozzle 3, and is positionedbeneath the groupof boilers and erected on a vertical arm '4 of a feed pipe 5 through which the heating medium 6 may be ii'edrtromy a source not shown controlled by `a valve l in the feed pipe. The burner is rotatable by suitable means at appropriate speed to provide the period and ldegree of heating desired. The means of rotation illustrated isthe imping'e ment of theemitted gas at a calculated angle, volume and velocity to repel the `bres loo v-lO

curved end ol the burner. l may install. a ihernnfstat on or in each boiler and provide suitable means ot engagement with the burner which under a predetermined degree ot ten'iperature would cause the burner to depart il'rom a boiler, or conversely would under a specific low point of temperature cause the burner to direct its llame on a boiler.

The boilers 1 are supported by suitable means, the means illustrated being their suspension by the vapor-conducting tubes 8, one for each boiler to which it has inlet, the means of introducing the vapor-producing liquid to the boilers being shown as ports 9 in the tubes vertically above the boilers, sealable by caps 10.

`The gas held by the liquid has a marked a'I'tinity for water, in my illustrated usage. rlhe power impulses are produced by the release of the gas trom the water under temperature increases, and the creation of a vacuum by the reabsorption of t-he gas by the water to permit atmospheric pressure to confer the return stroke. It is therefore iniportant that the gas be all returned to the water in the boilers so tar as possible, so that the elliciency of the solution may continue unabated.

Small quantities of moisture may however be accidently released or discharged with the gas from the solution in the boilers under abnormal temperature increases, which might be deposited in the tubes or elsewhere in the system. Moisture so deposited might erratically influence the 'l'unctioning of the device by absorbing gas. Provision is therefore made to capture any vagrant moisture, comprising dehydrating chambers 11 interposed in the tubes 8 in which suitable moisture absorbent may be installed to gather moisture from the gas traveling through the tubes and hold the same. The captured moisture, which may be saturated with the gas, may be removed from the system by suitable means, for enample by by-passi'ng the gas around the dehydrating chambers, by renewal ol the absorbent, or by heating the chambers Ylor dispersal et' the moisture back to the boilers.

rlhe boilers are shown as suspendedrtrom the tubes 8 which are supported by the engine or pump units 12, each boiler and tube serving one pump, and a tube discharging the gas expanded into it from a boiler into a piston chamber member 13 of a pump unit.

A' pump unit comprises the cylindrical piston chamber member 13, having a closed lower end 1lprovided with a drain 15 controlled by a faucet 16, and an inlet 17 above tightly closable by a cap 18; and a pump barrel 19 in which the piston chamber member depends axially and by which it is supported. A. partition 2O divides the pump barrel to provide a larger upper portion constituting a pressure well or piston cylinder 21 and a smaller lower portion constituting a cistern or sump 22, the two being connected by a central aperture 23 inthe partition. Annularly positioned over the aperture and depending trom the partition is a tube 2&1 the lower end et which is spaced from the bottom 25 of the barrel and sump.

lnlets 26 are provided in the walls of the sumps adjacent the bottom thereof and the inlet pipes 27 connected to a` main Q8 that conduct water from the source oi pumping operations into the sumps, the pipes having valves E29V closed under pressure :from the sumps.

Outlets 30 are provided positioned above the inlets, and having discharge pipes 31 connected to a discharge main 32 and having valves 33 opened under pressure 'from the sumps.

The pressure well or upper part of a pump barrel into which a piston chamber member depends is upwardly closed by an annular horizontal wall 34, joining the top of the barrel with the piston chamber member, so that the pressure well or piston cylinder 21 is a sealed chamber, having a lower controlled passagethrough the aperture 23 ot' the partition into the sump, and a normally closed inlet that will now be referred to in connection with details of structure constituting an important feature of the invention, and of the preparation of the device for operation.'

A plunger tube 35 is vertically positioned within the piston chamber 13, its open lower end spaced from the bottom of the chamber and having an elbow 36 projected through the wall of the chamber member and connected with a vertical tubular inlet 37 that is extended downwardly and let into the horizontal upper closing wall et the piston cylinder portion oit the barrel. A capped extension 38 of the tubular inlet is provided for introducing a desired quantity ot' water to the pump barrel, and for other purposes that will be disclosed. i

To prepare the device for functioning, water `inlet and discharge connections being made, andv provisiony made .tor operational the boilers, water is introduced into the pumpbarrel through the inlet extension 38 suiicient to produce a desired level in the piston cylinder, for example, approximately to two-thirds the height ot the cylinder. The water in the pump is designated 30. The amount of water in the cylinder or well at any time may be observed in the water level glass 40 shown as installed in the wall of the pump barrel.

rOil designated l1 is then introduced through the port 17 of the piston chamber, and it passes from this chamber upward through the plunger tube into the inlet tube 37 and so into the piston cylinder, where it www fills the annularspace abovefthe Water in the,I cylinder. The structure is so designed that approach of the oil level to the top:y ofthe inlet extension 38 indicatesthe desiredlevel of oil in the piston chamber.

y The caps indicated are of course installed on the ports mentioned, n l q The oil body in a piston chamber constitutes part of the liquidir piston ofthe device,

other parts being in` the plunger tube and.

the piston cylinder. The expanded. vapor delivered through a tube from a boiler or evaporator bears againstsuchbody of oil, the pressure being transmitted through the plunger tube to the portionl of the piston in is Water and the vapor used is ammonia, the

oil installed Would be a mineral oil. q

The oil piston is displaced in the piston chamber substantially ,thel length thereof, 4and depresses the Water iii the piston cylinder to an extent depending on the relative dimensions of the expansion chamber, plunger and cylinder. The Water column is positioned on the barrel so that its lower arm is in the area of the cylinder constantly occupied by Water, its upper arm being in the area constantly occupied by oil, under norinal operation.

scribed, the opposite phase will new be referred to. p

The vapor or gas released by heat from a aoiler is removed, and is recalled thereto in my illustrated usage, by the cooling of the liquid or solution in the boiler, so that the liquid Will reabsorb the gas. A vaccuin is vcreatedin the tube and piston chamber. and

air pressure on the Water in the inlet pipes causes opening of the valve,\the admission of water into the sump and cylinder, and the propulsion of the liquid cylinder on a return course through the plunger tube and to substantially lill the piston chamber. -The cooling of the solution is provided for by a Water jet nozzle 42 delivering a spray, and a coolf ing element is provided kfor each tank or boiler, a jet nozzle being served through a pipe 43 connected With the sump ofV a pump unit.

The operation of a Water jet is interinittent, since a boiler is to be cooled after each incident of lbeing heated and discharging vapor to propel a piston. The cooling and reduction of the vapor must occur in regular steps with the heating and propulsion. I therefore connect a jet pipe 43 that serves a boiler, with the sump of a pump unit that is pumped by an adjacent boiler. A positive impulse conferred onthe oil and Water in ak puinp barrel prpjects therefore a small quantity ofcooling Water through a Vpipe 43` onto the boiler from which,theheating ele-g inenthas been -Withdrawn, andfwhichhas completed;` its positive phase of operation;

In the pipes 43 are double-.faced valves 44 whereby the volumeand period of flow of a cooling spray may be regulated, coniiprising the coupling 45 engageable with the pipe, the

inner ring46 producingthe rreduced open- .ing 47 and constituting a valvefseat, the

gravity piston 48 loosely positionedfin the coupling and the valve gates 49 andy 50 on the stem '51, the upper gate 49 being threaded on the `stem for adjustment purposes, the gates oppositely and reciprocally closingthe opening47.L `Pressure from the suinp causes Water to pass the rpiston normally depressed by its Weight, and also to move itr inthe coupling because the Waterthat ispresent Within the valve asseinblyhas easyegress through the opening 46 which is provided of larger area than the total ofthe Across section ofr spacing of the pistony from the coupling.

yAn amount of Water having passedithrough vthe valve and through the nozzle suitable for the particular cooling task, the gate 50 seats `on the ring 46. Reverse actuation results when pressure from the sump is Withdrawn, `gravity and atmospheric pressure through the nozzle permit the piston to fall, the gate 49 seats on the ringto close the pipe.

A function of the depending tube connecting the piston cylinder with the sump may The propulsion of Water having been derise through the water and the oil., and accu'- mulate, displacing the Water and oil fromy normal occupancy of the areawithin Which they function, and so reduce the eliiciency of such functioning. I

What I claim and ters Patent is z l. In combination with a power generating desire to secure by Letadmission to the pistony cylinder, rsince air admitted thereto would device comprising a tank, a volatilizable elei ment in said tank, rmeans for releasing said element to exert pressure, and a cylinder for receiving the element, a liquid in said kcylinder having no ailinity for said gas,

to receive Water, a

a Well member adapted tube for ,conducting said liquid into thefupper portion of the Well, an outlet for the Water impelled bythe liquid under presi sure of the gas, and means fory restorin the liquid to pre-actuated position.

' 2. In combination With a plurality of pumps having liquid pistons, a plurality of boilers for holding an element containing a releasable vapor, means for releasing said vapor, and means for conducting the vapor to the pistons, means for rem-oving said vapor from said conducting means including Water jet elements actuated by said piston to project Water against said boilers serving other pistons.

3. In combination with a boiler, a vapor element in the boiler, and heating means causing tlie boiler to dispense the vapor, a pump element having a piston cylinder, a sump receiving a Huid being pumped and connected with said cylinder', the cylinder containing a portion oi' said iluid, an inlet and an outlet in the sump for the iiuid being pumped, a liquid piston actuatable by said dispensed vapor and propelling the fluid into thesump, pipes conducting a portion of the fluid so propelled against the boiler to cool itand cause recall of the vapor, and

I' valves controlling the direction of fluid iow in consonance with the actuation of the piston, atmospheric pressure returning Huid to theesump upon recall of the vapor.

4r. In a device of the class described, a liquid piston and a sump through which Water may be received and discharged, means `in the sump for restrainingair admitted with Water from access tothe liquid piston, and meansr for actuating thep'iston.

5. The combination With a device for pumping 4Water from a source subject to atmospheric pressure, the device utilizing the energy of Van alternately released and condensed vapor and including a tank for containing the condensed vapor, a cylinder to receive tlie released vapor, and means for heating tlie tank to release thevapor, oi a sump, a piston in said cylinder actuated by the released vapor to impel the Water from the sump, and means for restoring the pis` ton to pre-actuated position including a jet element for conducting a portion of the Water from the sump to the tank to cool the same to condense the released vapor, atmospheric pressure delivering Water to the sump :tromv the source and returning the piston to preactuated position.

In testimony` whereof I aiiix my signature.

THOMAS H. WALKER'. 

